This past weekend, another mentally unstable man was able to obtain firearms and go on a killing rampage. This time it occurred in Santa Barbara, California. Next time could be anywhere. Fortunately, unlike after most mass killings, Congress is on the verge of taking a step that could deny firearms to dangerous individuals.

Today, the House of Representatives will likely vote on an amendment that would provide additional funding to states to submit records to the National Instant Check System (NICS) for firearm purchases. This bipartisan amendment is being sponsored by Congressmen Mike Thompson (Democrat from California) and Peter King (Republican from New York). It would prohibit convicted felons, domestic abusers, the dangerously mentally ill, and other violent individuals from purchasing firearms by making sure their disqualifying records get into the FBI's NICS database.

Please call your U.S. Representative right now and tell him/ her to vote YES on the Thompson/King Amendment to H.R. 4660. You can be connected to your Representative by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. If you do not know who your Representative is, you can find out by clicking here.

Make your call today! If enacted, the Thompson/King Amendment WILL save lives. We must seize this moment together and make sure Congress does not drop the ball yet again.

Every Child Matters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to make children a national political priority. For more information, visit www.everychildmatters.org1023 15th St. NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20005